Photo by Patrick Dodson, Courtesy of Prudential Center
Grab your reputation hats, cowboy boots and red lipstick, Swifties. There’s an exclusive Taylor Swift exhibit in the Garden State that every fan needs to see.
As a longtime Swiftie, I can vouch for the GRAMMY Museum’s newest rotating exhibit, The Taylor Swift Experience, which opened last week and celebrates the iconic 10-time GRAMMY award-winning artist. From bedazzled outfits to an interactive dance floor, this exhibit showcases everything fans have come to know and love about Swift.
Photo by Patrick Dodson, Courtesy of Prudential Center
The Taylor Swift Experience is no stranger to detail. You could spend ten minutes just staring at the wall filled with pictures of the magazine covers Taylor’s been on, from People to Vogue to Rolling Stone.
Photo by Patrick Dodson, Courtesy of Prudential Center
Did you catch Taylor on The 1989 World Tour at MetLife Stadium? Then you’ll recognize the gorgeous silver piano and sparkling gold outfit from Wildest Dreams (my personal fave).
Photo by Patrick Dodson, Courtesy of Prudential Center
Do you have the Bad Blood or Look What You Made Me Do music videos on replay? Not only will you have an up-close-and-personal look at the outfits worn in these videos (Zombie Taylor, anyone?), you can get down on the light-up dance floor, too.
Photo by Patrick Dodson, Courtesy of Prudential Center
Check out the origin story of T-Swizzle: from birth to her first guitar to her first performance to her first tour. Personal touches include family photos and home videos, handwritten lyrics, baby clothes, a riding saddle, her original press kit and newspaper clippings.
The exhibit isn’t just outfits and props, either. You’ll get the deets on each of Swift’s albums, see how many awards she’s won and remember just how many times she’s been number one, plus how many barriers she’s broken as a female artist. Hint: she’s the first artist to sell at least one million albums in one week for four different albums.
Photo by Patrick Dodson, Courtesy of Prudential Center
True Swiftie fans will recognize Taylor’s sparkle guitar, which was played on both the Fearless and Speak Now tours. I’ve always wanted to get a closer look at it (I’ve tried to replicate its look myself, but my experiment didn’t even come close to the real deal) and it did not disappoint. Plus, check out the personalized banjo Tay used to perform Mean.
Photo by Patrick Dodson, Courtesy of Prudential Center
Swifties can also look forward to outfits and props from The RED Tour, The 1989 World Tour, red carpet appearances and GRAMMY performances.
Photo by Patrick Dodson, Courtesy of Prudential Center
Whether you’ve been a Swiftie since her debut album or jumped on the bandwagon more recently, this exhibit is a treat fans of all ages will love. You’ll remember why you waited at your computer with your pre-sale code to buy concert tix or why you ran out after work to grab her latest special edition CD. Taylor’s a trailblazer, and this exhibit spells out the many reasons why.
Photo by Patrick Dodson, Courtesy of Prudential Center
The Taylor Swift Experience is a rotating exhibit and will be at the Prudential Center until Labor Day, so make sure you check it out before then. And while you’re there, check out the rest of the GRAMMY Museum. It’s just as interactive and nostalgic, especially if you’re a fan of NJ icons Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston and Frank Sinatra.
Tickets to The Taylor Swift Experience through Ticketmaster are $7-10 per person. The exhibit is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am-6 pm on non-event days and 11 am-8 pm on event days.
The Taylor Swift Experience
GRAMMY Museum Experience
Prudential Center
165 Mulberry St., Newark
973-757-6300
Megan Muessen has been a Swiftie for the past decade and has attended each of Taylor Swift’s headlining tours.